Pneumonia: Early detection, treatment is important

Dr. Oluwafemi Ojo is a consultant physician/pulmonologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. He spoke to PAUL ADUNWOKE on World Pneumonia Day (WPD) theme, ‘Championing The Fight Against Pneumonia,’ which aims at creating awareness about the ailment and also to make policymakers do the needful.

What message is this year’s WPD theme, ‘Championing The Fight Against Pneumonia,’ passing across?
It is a call to all stakeholders in the health sector to play active role in the reduction of the impact of pneumonia both at the local and international levels.

Stakeholders should always remind policymakers that pneumonia is still a silent killer, taking the lives of many, especially children. This will prompt them to make policies that will alleviate the situation for all. Therefore, there is the need for advocacy strategies to draw attention on the need to continue the fight to bring an end to this disease.
Pneumonia affects about 155 million children across the global; what do you think needs to be done to reduce this number?

There is need for improved hygiene and environmental sanitation, as well as Improved immunisation, especially among under aged children both in the rural and urban areas across the county.
Again people should avoid cooking with domestic gas, electricity, among others to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution, as these trigger pneumonia.

There is also the need for improved access to well equipped healthcare facilities across the country to achieve universal healthcare coverage. Improved access to comprehensive health insurance is also needed to reduce out of pocket payments among Nigerians.

Nobody in the country plans to get sick or be hurt, but most people need medical care at some point. So, health insurance is necessary, as it covers cost of treatment and offers many other important benefits.

What are the causes of pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It is caused by different germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. It will be proper if every Nigerian go for medical check up at least twice a year, this will help to detect it early and give it the necessary treatment. Early detection is important to treatment.
What are the signs and symptoms of Pneumonia?

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, chest pain, coughing up phlegm, which can be blood stained or bloody, difficulty in breathing, and weakness. General public should look out for these signs in their children and visit the nearest hospital.
How can pneumonia be prevented?

Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the infection. Wash your hands properly after using the toilet, sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing. Also, wash your hands before eating, as this will make you to avoid the bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia, among other germs.
However, healthcare providers should clean their hands before and after having contact with a patient, who has a breathing tube, and before and after contact with any respiratory device that is used on the patient, whether or not gloves were worn.

In fact, healthcare providers should clean their hands before and after touching a patient, before procedure, after being exposed to patient’s fluid, and after touching a patient’s surroundings, whether or not the patient has a breathing tube.
What is the possible treatment for pneumonia?

Treatment depends on its underlying causes, for instance antibiotics could be used if the underlying cause is bacteria. Other supportive treatment may include fluids, analgesics, oxygen, among others.

How a child’s pneumonia is treated depends on the type he/she has and how severe it is. Pneumonia can affect one section of the lungs or the lobe of the lungs, or both lungs. If a particular pneumonia is caused by a bacterial infection, or fluids that collect after aspiration become infected, antibiotics may be prescribed for the patient.

Fungal pneumonias can also be treated with antifungal medications. Severe cases of pneumonia regardless of what caused it may require treatment with more intense therapies like supplemental oxygen, breathing treatments, or even mechanical ventilation.